Drain covers can be made valueless

Well, let's say the metal is worth a tenner from your local scrap merchant, they have been warned by councils not to accept the thing.

Add to that, they are pretty heavy to lug around from where they have been excavated to the dealer.

If you spot any missing covers or see people working on the road without official clothing or vehicles, please let Brent know on 020 8937 5050.

WARNING: Whatever you do, do not approach anyone you suspect to be stealing a manhole cover, anybody who can carry a cover will be pretty strong!

In some foreign lands, the authorities have made the covers not worth stealing. Their solution is simple.
The metal is cast like a giant deep dish pizza shell with some cross braces fitted with holes for the keys used to lift them out of the hole. Then, the whole thing is filled with cement.

Now, who would want to carry something weighing 60 kilos to a shop to get a tenner?

Just out of interest, do you know why most drain covers are circular?
Circular covers cannot fall through the hole!